Dana 60 rear, Dana 70 front. Questions

[CatRacer]

I am building my 89 1500 Suburban as our ultimate overland adventure rig.
Obviously the 1500 axles have to go.
I found a guy selling a dually Dana 60 from an 80's chevy and a front Dana 70 for extremely reasonable asking price. They will need complete overhaul before the transplant, but the price is so good I can't pass it up.

My questions;
What needs to be done to convert the Dana 60 dually to a single wheel. This axle should work for my application, right?

I know little about the Dana 70 and information seems to be harder to find. Any drawback to installing the 70 in the front?

 

[nvrenuf]

To convert the D60 you just need to swap the bearing hubs, the rest of the axle is the same. There are hole size differences in the rotors so if you reuse the dually rotors you may need to drill it out to fit the studs.

The D70’s desirability will depend on which on it is -

If it’s an open knuckle type, get it! It’s identical to an open knuckle 60 except with a larger diff housing. It could be 10 lug though so check that.

If it’s closed knuckle I’d pass no matter how cheap. The axle shafts are smaller and 1.31” / 30 spline inners vs an open knuckle D60 with 1.5” / 35 spline inners and the birfield axle joints are weaker than a typical open knuckle ujoint. It should have drum brakes too, there is no disc conversion. All of these things can be converted and overcome but not without completely modify the entire axle (knuckles out, axle shafts, carrier, etc). The gears are bigger because it’s a 70 but conversion kits are available to put 70 gears in a 60 housing so that’s not a selling point either. It’s just not worth it.

 

[Turbo4whl]

Depending on the different years, you also may need to move the leaf spring perches on the 60.

 

[nvrenuf]

Depending on the different years, you also may need to move the leaf spring perches on the 60.

A GM front D60 will fit any year 4wd square body, the perches never changed.

 

[Turbo4whl]

A GM front D60 will fit any year 4wd square body, the perches never changed.

Yes, the front is okay. Micah said he was looking at a 60 for the rear. With duel rear wheels the spring perches could be more inboard next to the frame. This gives more clearance for the inner duel tire.

 

[CatRacer]

Thanks for the replies guys!
I'm gonna snag the 60 for the rear and inspect the 70 for the front.

 

[Strick]

Are you certain it's not a 60F for front & 70 or 70HD rear?

Strickland

 

[nvrenuf]

@Turbo4whl you’re right, sorry, I read his post as a D60 front.

@CatRacer - @Strick is right, squares never used a D60 rear axle. If it’s from a square body dually it’ll either be a narrow 14 bolt or a wide D70HD.

Everything in my first post was relative to front axles.

 

[Grit dog]

@CatRacer theres some confusion with the axles you think you’re looking at and what they originally came from.
That said, D70 front axles are fairly rare. Not a good thing when it comes to getting parts etc.
That’s my 2c. Buyer beware, make sure you know what you’re getting.

If you gotta modify stuff like spring perches and shock mounts anyway, I’d look for a matching takeout set out of a 3rd or 4th gen Ram.
Regardless it can get expensive. As you’re already aware.

 

[Cyrillious]

The Dana 60 has the same gear ratio as the Dana 70? That'd be something to be sure of

 

[nvrenuf]

@Grit dog watch out for that 3rd & 4th gen Dodge stuff - it’s coil sprung, full time and the diff is on the wrong side.